Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-27
The Citizens Committee and the Dis.
trict COmmissiOnery.
DISCUSSING THE SCHEDULE OF IMPROVEMENTS OF THR
CITIZENS COMMITTEE OF ONE HUNDRED - sONE
LIVELY PASSAGES BETWEEN THE coNfKRREs.

at thelr meeting last Tuesday night. The meet
ing was held in the board room, and there were
present beside Commissioners Webb, Wheatley
and Ludlow, Mr. Noble D. Larner, chairman; Mr..
NJ 1. Weller, secretary, and Messra Thos. Luttrell
B. G. Clark and d. Strasburger Of the committee.
alter an informal discussion of the needs of the
city Commissioner Webb announced that the Dis
tr1ct commissioners were prepared to receive
Whatever communication the committee had to
the city.
Mr.. Weller replied that inadvertently he had
elt the written report OF the recent meeting with
tne schedule Of streets at, his home and that
therefore they would be obliged to refer to the
neSday.
MR.. LARNER SPEAKS OF THE DISSATISFACTION OF
CITIZENS.
MI. Noble d. Larner then addressed the Com
missi0ners in few words. He stated that it Is O
well-known fact that there exists considerable
dissatisfaction among the citizens at the way the
streets In the city are improved. He said that the
coWlmCtee mad been sent as the representatives OF
Ine cltlzens on that subject, and therefore they
nave to submit list OF streets which they think
IL Is desirable to improve. Mr. Larner said that
Wnlle he recognized the fact that there has been
considerable strife over this matter on all hands,
Che committee comes before the Commissioners to
express their views in dispassfonate manner and
WIN the hope that they may be able to work to-
I'm peace and harmony Mr. Wheatley asked
0e submitted to Congress or to be considered as
lnolcatlve OF the desires OF the ctizena
As GUIDE TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
Mr. Larner replied that their desire was simply
10 submit list that would guide the Commits
sloners IN making their recOmmen ndations He
SAID tnat he thought more money might be OBJ
talned Tor street improvements If 1t was asked for
ONE MILLION FOR STREETS.
Col. Ludlow inquired how much money would be
required to make such Improvements as are In
dicated In the list the committee has prepared,
was In the neighb0rnoOd OF 81, 600, OOO
Mr.. Weller, In reply to an inquiry by Col Lud-
low: as to how much money was meant by the COM
mttee In the phrase "neighborhood" OF 81 600 OOO
said the committee meant '.nine hundred and
some odd thousand dollars" Mr.. Weller ex-
plained how the schedule had been prepared
subcommittee on streets and avenues that
prepare the list OF thoroughfares which
should s be improved in their respective sections
This list Is sent TO the executive committee, VINO
ratfy the selection, and 1t Is then sent to the CEN
tral committee, and the delegates In that commit
tee from the association is Instructed to urge It's
dred. H'''A - 'A' o'A''@' '0"l''e0 Oh one Hun
1.-THE THEORY OF NEEDS"
Col. Ludlow asked on what theory the distribu-
ton OF the appropriation was made, and Mr. Weller
replied quickly, son the theory OF needs"
Mr.. Lirner confirmed Mr Weller's statement.
Col. Ludlow then said that the needs are very
much greater than can be satisfied at once
Mr.. Weller then said that on this theory the
N.
preparation to
THE NEGLECTED. PORTIONS OF THE CITY.
Col Ludlow asked what Mr.. Weller meant by
the neglected portions and that gentleman replied
that the neglected portions OF the city were the
northeast, southeast, and southwest sections
COL Ludlow inquired how much OF the north
west was neglected, but Mr.. Larner interrupted
the discussion On this subject, and said t at the
committee had not come to discuss these Ques-
TONS only TO tell what are the needs or the city
SHARP DISCUSSION
then arose between Commissioner Webb and Mr.
Larner as to the apportionment OF the approprta.
tion. Mr.. Larner assured Mr.. Webb that he had
not come to fight any particular section but to
ask Dement'S for the whole community.
Mr.. Wheatly asked Mr. Larner what improve
that gentleman replied that he was not prepared
TO say. The question OF the prOpriety of adopting
90 per cent as the basis for the appropriation lor
at length.
air. .. =. Clark said that no man should sit down
10 apporilon on the money to be used in par
Lcular section. He believes that where improve
ments are most needed 1t is the duty OF the Com
mlSsloners To spend the money. He said 1t has
lures for street improvements have gone into the
northwest and for removing the old wood pave
ments. After 100000 had been spent In this
blocks and re-lmproying the streets. He said that
1t has been stated that there are no wood q ave-
ments left In the northeast This is not true.
Ihere stlli remain 900 square yards OF this pave
Heht, ana the people want 1t removed and better
ones laid Mr.. Clark referred to the statements
Whicn ne claimed have been made that he Is at
war with the Commissioners. and said that he en-
tertalnS the most pleasant feelings toward the
BOARD. AND whenever they agree upon list OF
streets, alter thoroughly Investigating the whole
matter ne would use his feeble powers to their Ut
llost Ia aSSlstiAg the commissioners TO secure the
necessary amount OF money. Col Ludlow In
qulred what MI. Clark understood to be meant by
needs, and Mr. Clark hOtiy replied that he did not
understand what was meant, but had not come
there TO bubble over words.
COL LudiOw Jumped up from his chair and In an
inoiS nanC manner Salu that II MI. Clark did not
understand what was meant how could he expect
That he, Col. Ludlow, could.
ANOTHER SHARP sKIRM1sH
then occurred between Col. Ludlow and Mr.. Clark
as to who was quibDling and who wasn't. which
was stopped by Mr.. Larner attempting to explain
the needs. He Illustrated his meaning by point
Ing out several streets on the map which. he
Claimed, were built upon, although they were not
thoroughfares, and others that snould properly be
opened TO act as outlets from the city.
Mr. Wheatley picked up the schedule of streets
as printed In 1HE STAR, and after looking it over
for few seconds, he turned to Mr.. Weller, who
was seated beside him, and said that the schedule
OF streets to be improved In West Washington did
HE said that the committee have provided for the
improvement OF streets in the western part OF that
section, and have entirely overlooked che eastern
nal Thls, ne thought, should not have been done.
Mr. LARNER EXPLAINS
Mr.. Larner said he wanted 1t understood that
the Citizens Association do not demand that Ger
tain things should be done at the expense OF
Others, but that they want the Commissioners to
do al they can. MIR. Larner then continued to ex-
plain to COL Ludlow what the "needs" are, ana
got little angry as the colonel persisted in this
line OF inquiry. Mr.. Larner said that he couldn't
indefinitely extend his search for the needs.
Col. Ludlow very politely replied that his pur.
pose IN asking Was 10 get down to an ANALYSIS Of
the subject. He said that the Commissioners take
the view that there are streets which may not be
Quilt upon, put yet should be improved.
During q lull in the discussion Col Ludlow said
to Mr.. Larner that he understood that there was
more in the report than related entirely to the
streets.
Mr.. Larner replied. in an excited manner that
tnere Was nothing In that report that the commit
said they did not come there for the purpose OF
discussing those matters, but as taxpayers and
cltlzenS, and as such were asking no favOrS
THE ALLEGED DIVERSION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
At the commencement OF this lively discussion
Mr. Webb nervously rose from his chair and while
his colleagues and the committee engaged In
si0ners had diverted appropriations from one
street TO another, he paced up and down the side
OF the room and only inserted q word
now and then. Col Ludlow and Mr.. Lar
ner paired on, and Mr.. Wheatley
and Mr.. Weller, while Mr.. Strasburger sat at one
end OF the table perfectly still, and Mr. Luttrel
sat on the sofa chewing cigar with quiet smile
on his face. Mr. Clark took no active part In the
discussion until Mr.. Webb referred to the letter
which Mr.. Clark recently wrote to TIE SrAR and
then these TWO gentlemen became involved IN
4 STORMY DISCUSSION.
For o time the room resounded with words
spoken in loud tones as all attompted 70 sneak Mt